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Brexit must not weaken UK animal health and welfare standards

Brexit will impact on all areas vets care about. We’ve not taken a position on leave or remain, but a no-deal Brexit must be taken off the negotiating table because of the very serious consequences for animal health and welfare, trade, and our veterinary workforce.

Brexit and the veterinary profession #Brexit

What impact will Brexit have on the veterinary profession?

EU membership has had a profound effect on the day to day working lives of vets. From animal health and welfare legislation and the availability of medicines, to the impact of free movement on our workforce and the rules that govern trade in animals and animal products.

Our overarching approach to Brexit is that existing animal health, animal welfare, public health, veterinary medicines, workforce, and environmental protection standards must at least be maintained. We’re also keen to seize any opportunities to improve and enhance standards.

We must safeguard the UK's high reputation for animal health, animal welfare, and food safety. We’re campaigning for:

a veterinary workforce that has the capacity to meet the demands of a post-Brexit UK;

trade agreements that secure high standards of animal health, animal welfare, and public health;

animal health and welfare to be recognised and supported as public goods;

Why is BVA campaigning against a no-deal Brexit?

Although a lot of work has been done by Defra and a range of regulatory bodies to prepare, we’re not convinced that enough has been done to mitigate the potential negative impacts.

A no-deal Brexit would leave the UK with no time to transition and adjust.

We remain deeply concerned that: we won’t have the necessary workforce for veterinary export certification; that the loss of markets for trade could lead to overstocking and significant welfare problems or a cull of healthy animals; that border problems may hold up the supply of veterinary medicines; and that millions of pet owners don’t know if they will be able to travel with their animals.

We’ve also raised concerns that new trade deals could compromise the UK’s high animal health and welfare standards, and that the government has still not enshrined animal sentience into UK law.

How you can get involved

Write to your MP to support our calls for high standards of animal health, animal welfare, public health, and food safety to be included in any future trade deals.

We’ve developed the following reports and positions:

Brexit and the veterinary profession

In response to the result of the EU referendum we developed a set of key principles and recommendations to secure the best possible outcome of Brexit for the veterinary profession. Our report covers: veterinary workforce; animal health; animal welfare; food hygiene and safety; veterinary medicines; research and development; trade; devolution; and Northern Ireland.

Agriculture policy (post Brexit)

Our vision for post-Brexit agriculture policy put animal health and welfare support as public goods at its centre. We’re calling for public money to be used ambitiously, maximising its impact and incentivising innovation.

Trade (post Brexit)

To continue to trade, and to benefit from any new trading relationships, the UK will need enough vets to meet the demand for export certification. In all new trade agreements the government must secure the inclusion of equally high standards of animal health, animal welfare, public health and food safety, and responsible antibiotic use.

Workforce and immigration

Over half of the veterinary surgeons who register in the UK each year qualified elsewhere in the EU. For future immigration policy the government must prioritise vets and consider the economic and social impact of the profession. Any new system must consider the projected increase in demand for vets following the UK's exit from the EU, the time and resource needed to increase vet school capacity, and the fact that many veterinary practices are small businesses that would find it difficult to meet the demands of a visa-based system.